Tuesday, February 28, 2012

End of Feb

Some more brief happenings...this may become a trend.

-The twin lovelies started rice cereal last week shortly after turning 6 months old. Today for lunch it was sweet potatoes. They are thoroughly enjoying eating from a spoon.
As always I'm feeling all sad about how fast they are growing, but at the same time enjoying this 'rolling, laughing, blethering, grabbing, sitting and playing with toys' stage immensely. I didn't think I'd get much use out of my massive nursing pillow once they got too big to lie on it, but it's been great. They take turns sitting in the middle of it and have tons of wee toys within reach.
-Every Sunday I feel like I've just done some intense workout by the time I get to the church building...and that's just getting there, good grief! Thankfully since the time has changed to 11:30am it's not quite as crazy.
I watch all the wee kids causing havoc at the back of the RS room during the 3rd hr and I get a wee lump in my throat thinking about my future in there with the babies....pure madness! And I just got extended a calling after my 8 month hiatus!

-Poor Jack, he desperately wants to live in Scotland so he can be close to his cousins. He asks EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. if we can go to Scotland so that he can play with them...he's really concerned with finding out what kind of toys Samuel and Isaac have ( my brother, John's boys). Ryan's youngest sister, Callie, is expecting her first baby in the middle of April, so he'll get his first cousin here in the States, however, Jack was really disappointed that it wasn't a boy...he's over it now and seems to be fairly excited to meet baby Zoe. I know I am.
-A week ago today was Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday. Jack and Peter were ecstatic about getting to help make the pancakes and eat them for dinner. I found a great recipe in a cooking book I use a lot...they were the most delicious pancakes I've ever made. Ryan was working late that night and missed out, but we ended up making them again two more times that week because they were so good! Ha.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Valentine's Day

This Valentine's Day ....
we made each other lovely cards, played with our new super heroes, watched some Disney Valentine's cartoons, smelled some sweet red roses, ate delicious Abby's Heart shaped pizza, and played with two happy and then very fussy wee babies.
Here are my lovelies:
Hope your day was special.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Goings on.

I have sat down at the computer umpteen times over the last few days with the determination to produce at least a brief post....either a wee one is suddenly in desperate need of my help or I feel guilty thinking about the state my house is in, etc and shut it off. Seldom do I post any more because ...well, you know, life is busy, but I am anxious to get at it again. It's important to document and I vow to try and be better.
Here are some random quick thoughts and happenings:

-The twin lovelies haven't been terribly well, just a horrid cold that is causing many sleepless nights...6 to be exact. I thought I was coping with the sleep deprivation fairly well until yesterday, then it hit me hard and I felt my feet dragging all day. By the late evening I cried it out. Sometimes I figure it's best to join when the babies are having a good bawl.

- Jack is learning to read. It's wonderful seeing him light up when he recognizes a word in a book we are reading. Peter is learning along with him and is actually the one giving Jack a prompt if he forgets a word....he says, "Great job buddy!", whenever Jack gets one right. I am really loving the great best friend relationship they have.
- A couple of weeks ago I started exercising everyday. I don't really care to discuss the details of this because it's kind of boring, but I wanted to note my absolute favourite part which comes at the end of the work-out. Without fail Peter will say, "You did it Mummy? You're finished?! YIPPIE!" His voice is so excitable, it is just about the funniest thing ever.
- The twin lovelies are 5 1/2 months and just wonderful. They are sitting (although still a wee bit wobbly), rolling everywhere, standing against furniture, and killing themselves laughing at all the mental things my wee boys are doing. Olive particularly enjoys watching the boys have a good wrestle and gets a kick out of seeing Jack jump...she may not be so mellow after all.
- Ryan got to argue a case at the supreme court in Salem, Oregon last month. We were very proud of him...he did a really good job. I, however, was a basket case of nerves as I watched the recording of it online. I was pretty annoyed at one judge that was trying to challenge Ryan a lot, but, of course, that's what they do. It wasn't exactly personal or anything, but I was definitely feeling defensive as I watched it. Ha!

- I said in a post not to long ago that I was "finding myself" again and coming out of the "initial haze" after having the babies. I was really kidding myself. The reality of my new life has been slowly creeping up on me....and let me say this, I truly love this family of mine, but life has become completely, totally, and utterly overwhelming at times.
When the babies were almost 2 months old a dear sweet lady from my ward who had come to help me a number of times made a very innocent comment that catapulted me into a place that really had me struggling and panicked. "The babies are 2 months now, so you should be totally fine now, right?", she said.
I'm pretty sure when I replied with a confident, "yes", I was trying to convince myself more than her that I'd be alright. But I was secretly dying off inside. I don't like the idea of being needy. Really though, most people don't, it's not like I'm the first mother to think I can take on everything and anything.
While I was pregnant with the twins I committed to myself that I would accept the help of those that offered it. Everyone told me that the one piece of advice they could give me was to let people help. So, I did. Most people that offered never actually followed through....that's fine...people have lives and are plenty busy. I had some dear friends that were so kind and helped a lot particularly with the boys. But I also had expectations for myself and I thought I'd be pretty much back to "normal", what ever that is, and taking it all in my stride within a matter of months. I really wanted to just do it all myself again and be successful at it. And I kinda don't think that's such a bad thing either. I mean I have 4 wee kids and I'm their mum, I need to figure it all out and get adjusted to it soon enough. But, goodness my expectations were high! I absolutely thought I was capable of getting everything taken care of around my house every day, that I'd have wonderful positive relationships with everyone, and I'd be a fun, creative mum to my wee lovelies.
To make a long story short, it's taken me longer than it probably should have to learn the need to be more patient with myself. Reading and studying from some of the best books and exercising have been key to my current sane state of mind. Ha. It's going to take many years before I feel like I've got a handle on things around here, but I am making more confident strides towards getting there.